Several years ago I read a book called "A Christianity That Really Works" by Ron Marr. It is subtitled "A Handbook for Living in Continuous Personal Revival". For the next several nuggets I am going to share excerpts from this book. Any statements that are in quotes are from the book.

OVERCOMING HINDRANCES TO PRAYER
Sometimes even the most sincere seekers feel as if their prayers aren't reaching beyond the ceiling. Sometimes it seems you can't worship God, seek Him, love Him, praise Him, thank Him, or wait on Him. Accepting these dry times without anger or resentment is to trust Him to bring good from all. The following are some guidelines to follow when you are struggling with prayer.

Removing the Blockages
"At times when we come to Him in prayer, He is not in all our thoughts. Some sin or disobedience may be unconfessed or unforsaken. Agree with God immediately. Confess it and forsake it."

"We may be distracted from the Lord by the things of this life."

"We may secretly resent some circumstance that God permits in our life or some demand we fear He may be making of us."

"Our negative reactions of resentment, anger, bitterness, fear, anxiety, and a harsh unkind spirit may have replaced our trust and rest in the Lord."

"We may not be spending enough time with the Lord to allow the Holy spirit to break down all our resistances."

"We may be guilty of wanting more from this time than Him alone."

"We may be trying rather than trusting."

Dealing with Drowsiness
At times you may fall asleep while praying. This is not always a bad thing.

"You may need to move around, walk, or speak aloud in order to stay awake."

"Try writing down your thoughts."

A Wandering Mind
"Most of us will experience difficulties with a short attention span or lack of concentration during prayer times on occasion. Do not fret or stew about it. Allow Him to draw your affections back to Him."

"You may find keeping your Bible or a devotional book open in front of you and referring to it often helps with this problem."

Enemies of Rest
"Some enemies of rest in the Lord are: lack of trust in Him, fear, uncertainty, impatience, worry, anxiety, contentiousness, excessive concern for opinions of others, self-imposed or self-met deadlines, resentment, bitterness, anger, jealousy, lust, possessiveness, pretense, fantasy, unreality, pride, rebellion. Give it all to Jesus."

What More Can You Do?
"Seek to worship Him, not with mere words, but as what and who you need right now."

"Let the lord show you where you're not pleasing Him. Let Him deal with whatever it is He revels as displeasing until it's happily settled between you. "

"Thank and praise Him for who He is and what He does, even when you don't feel at all like doing it."

"Read the Word."

"At any point, under the Lord's direction, be prepared to turn your attention from your relationship with the Lord to genuine, heart intercession for others."

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Richard D. Dover
In His Steps Ministries
InHisSteps@creatingfutures.net

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